# Clowns in woods try to lure children with money, residents say
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [August 31, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567 "2016-08-31T14:27:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 8
### Author:  [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/141 "2016-09-20T05:55:01Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> That would _really_ piss off some over worked cops.
Funny you should mention that…
Late Sunday, city and campus police responded to an armed robbery report adjacent to the local university. One of the suspects fired at an officer during the ensuing foot chase. As a perimeter is being set up, and other agencies are being brought in with tracking dogs and such, some brilliant kid decides to start a rumor of clown sightings on campus. Hysteria ensues.
Police are being pulled away from the actual dangerous situation to ride “suspicious noise” calls, and break up roving bands of collegiate vigilantes armed with baseball bats. At one am on a Monday, the campus chief of police is riding calls and making traffic stops, trying to calm the mayhem. City police are pulled away to Walmart, where folks are irate because they can’t buy ammo for Bozo hunting season in the middle of the night.
Meanwhile, 2 of the actual criminal suspects were caught. The third is still at large. There are some unhappy cops in town right now.
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/142 "2016-09-20T14:42:02Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#):
>
> As a perimeter is being set up, and other agencies are being brought in with tracking dogs and such, some brilliant kid decides to start a rumor of clown sightings on campus. Hysteria ensues.
I watched a Peter Gunn episode like that this weekend. A fake plot to assassinate the Governor took all the cops in town to the airport, and bad guys robbed a bank on the other side of town.
---
### Author:  [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/143 "2016-09-20T15:49:54Z")
Meanwhile, at The University of Alabama…
> [@](#):
>
> The UA campus is NOT on lockdown. The reports of clowns or any immediate credible threats on the UA campus are not true. These are unsubstantiated rumors. UAPD is patrolling campus. This message is being sent as a timely alert to keep you updated. In case of an emergency call 911 or UAPD.
---
### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/144 "2016-09-20T16:25:54Z")
WTF? “Clowns” is becoming almost synonymous with “terrorists”. This is ridiculous.
Roving bands of vigilantes with baseball bats? Before all of this nonsense is over, someone is going to get hurt, and it likely won’t be a clown doing the hurting.
---
### Author:  [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/145 "2016-09-20T17:37:52Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#):
>
> **Funny** you should mention that… some brilliant kid decides to start a rumor of clown sightings on campus. Hysteria ensues…
Damn, I read that as “Hilarity ensues.” I must be the last person in the world not creeped out by clowns. One alone amidst an expansive herd of rodeo bulls.
---
### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/146 "2016-09-20T17:42:57Z")
But is any clown actually innocent?
---
### Author:  [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/147 "2016-09-20T19:04:48Z")
do you blame the clown of thorns?
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/148 "2016-09-20T19:17:54Z")
> [@eschereal](#):
>
> do you blame the clown of thorns?
Now you’ve got Catholics and Baptists annoyed as well.
Probably Methodists and Mormons too.
---
### Author:  [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/149 "2016-09-20T19:33:40Z")
As I am reading “IT” for the fourth or fifth time, I’ve been trying to come up with a modern analog for the innocent but scary icon. (I mean, before that, it wasn’t such a cliche.) Ultimately, something that parents foist upon children but they detest or are terrified by. I think we are too careful these days, but I’m thinking…instead of the faux-jolly clown, a gentle, psychologically soothing character. Like Mr. Rogers, Barney, DJ Lance Rock, even Bob Ross. I don’t think we have such a common cult/culture anymore. But still, I think the -unexpectedly- scary one for the newest generations would be the quiet, accepting, socially-progressive live-and-let-live type. The typical scary guy would be a zombie, as those have been faddish for quite some time. Combine the two.
Clowns have been scary on their own for at least two generations.
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/150 "2016-09-20T21:45:02Z")
[Pokemon.](https://67.media.tumblr.com/6b149d101bd2947aae6b83f6dd918e04/tumblr_nrfsdmYVKA1t7pb0io1_500.jpg)
---
### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/151 "2016-09-20T21:45:26Z")
[Arkansas is now a member of Team Clown](https://www.google.com/amp/www.thv11.com/amp//news/local/reports-weapon-wielding-clown-spotted-in-ark-town/321972233?client=ms-android-verizon)
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/152 "2016-09-20T21:56:26Z")
> [@Biotop](#):
>
> [Arkansas is now a member of Team Clown](https://www.google.com/amp/www.thv11.com/amp//news/local/reports-weapon-wielding-clown-spotted-in-ark-town/321972233?client=ms-android-verizon)
Oh, Hell!
“the alleged clown”
:dubious:
---
### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/153 "2016-09-20T22:24:57Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Oh, Hell!
>
> “the alleged clown”
> :dubious:
“Alleged,” huh?
You tell that to those poor souls who had a monsterous wicked clown knocking at their door!
---
### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/154 "2016-09-20T22:28:31Z")
“Knock Knock Knock!”
“Who’s out there?”
“Candygram.”
“What?”
“Candygram.”
“Hey, you’re not one of those evil clowns, are you?”
…
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/155 "2016-09-21T00:22:59Z")
> [@Biotop](#):
>
> “Alleged,” huh?
It’s the damned news site. Don’t Blame Me.
:dubious:
---
### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/156 "2016-09-21T00:33:05Z")
When are they going to start taking clowns seriously?
---
### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/157 "2016-09-21T01:54:01Z")
[Pennsylvania Clown rumor](http://timesleader.com/news/local/588970/is-there-really-a-clown-on-the-san-souci-parkway-facebook-says-so)
---
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/158 "2016-09-21T02:03:27Z")
There are woods in Pennsylvania? I thought it was all corn.
---
### Author:  [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/159 "2016-09-21T02:08:03Z")
How do the clowns know which children have money? I need to know.
---
### Author:  [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567/160 "2016-09-21T03:03:30Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> There are woods in Pennsylvania? I thought it was all corn.
The \*sylvania \*in Pennsylvania comes from the latin “silvanus” meaning woods. We have woods all over. They’re mostly new growth forests.
Apparently there’s at least one clown lurking in them.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567.md?page=7)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-in-woods-try-to-lure-children-with-money-residents-say/764567.md?page=9)